Hair

I remarked to my daughter recently that it is almost time for my “semi-annual haircut”. After she stopped laughing, I reminded her that I traditionally get my hair cut in July and December. The rest of the time I just wash it and go. I have “Orphan Annie hair”, the kind of hair you can choose to love or hate, adapt to or constantly fight. For years I spent time and money doing the latter. I wish now that I could recover even half the money and time I spent on straightening, coloring, cutting, and styling my hair! Of course I must admit that when I was younger I enjoyed looking different from time to time. Now my reflection in the mirror seldom changes, except to get a little older.

Most of the women I know spend a great deal of time and money styling their hair or having someone else do it. And according to industry statistics about half of the women in this country color their hair. Another thing that I don’t bother with anymore…I just don’t care if my hair turns gray. That’s what it should do after all the stress I’ve lived with for 62 years! Lol Coloring products account for about $2 billion that women spend each year on their hair. Who knows how much we spend at salons!! The national totals I found were around $40 billion total, but not broken down into categories.

Time is another factor in the hair care scenario. Each of us has to decide how much time we want to devote to our hair. My mother spent hours on her hair each week. She washed it, rolled it onto curlers, let it dry, combed it out, styled it, sprayed it. And I recall spending at least twenty to thirty minutes a day just pulling and drying my hair so it would be straighter. I had a friend who ironed hers!

One of the things I remember from my youth is how many women wore scarves to keep their hair in place. A woman might spend an hour styling her hair, and then cover it up so the wind didn’t blow it into disarray! My mother owned dozens of little flimsy hair scarves in different colors.

I also remember crowding into the bathroom between high school classes to do a “hair check”. There was so much hairspray in the air it’s a wonder someone didn’t pass out!

Men cannot scoff at these rituals as they are spending millions each year to color and/or grow hair! The selection of men’s hair care products gets more diversified each year. And I know some of them are spending quality time in front of the mirror each morning.

So…not a deep, inspiring subject this morning, but some amusing memories. What are you doing with your hair today?